By Michael Gleeson, Peter Ryan and Jake Niall
In today’s AFL Briefing, your wrap of footy news:
- Collingwood and Essendon head the list of clubs in pursuit of Gold Coast star Matt Rowell, who also met with Geelong in spring.
- North Melbourne midfielder George Wardlaw could be sidelined for a short period after he suffered a suspected hamstring strain at training on Wednesday.
- Jordan De Goey was cleared of serious injury after a scare at training on Wednesday.
Dons, Pies in hunt for Rowell
Jake Niall and Peter Ryan
Collingwood and Essendon head the list of clubs in pursuit of Gold Coast star Matt Rowell, who also met with Geelong in spring.
Essendon, Collingwood and Geelong are keen on Matt Rowell.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Competition sources said that the Magpies and Bombers had spoken to Rowell back in October, along with Geelong, while the Western Bulldogs are also interested in the gun midfielder, who comes out of contract this year.
Gold Coast, however, are confident of retaining Rowell, the 2019 No.1 draft pick, despite the strong interest from Victoria and lure of returning home. Rowell, one of the AFL’s premier stoppage players, would be eligible for free agency at the end of 2027 if he signed a two-year extension.
The Suns are aware Rowell has been approached by Victorian clubs keen on a powerful inside midfielder, but they believe he has lately shown strong commitment to their cause.
He has played every match in the past three seasons and finished in the top 10 in the Brownlow Medal last year, but he is yet to play finals.
If he were up for grabs, Rowell would be one of the most sought-after players in the trading marketplace.
Premiership Cat Gryan Miers said his club should be applauded for its efforts to lure the midfield star.
The consistent Miers, who has played in 15 finals since making his AFL debut six seasons ago, said adding great players to the list via trades lifted everyone’s performance.
“He is one of the best players in the league so it is pretty straightforward ... that is what everyone gets cut up about, that we are targeting great players. That is their job to just target the best,” Miers said.
Gryan Miers celebrates with former Giant Jeremy Cameron.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
“I don’t know if we are going for him but if we are, good luck to him and good luck to us. If that happens it will be exciting. I hope we keep going after those big names.”
Miers, a keen NFL fan, said he only needed to look at the Philadelphia Eagles’ path to this year’s Super Bowl to know that trading in talent was the right approach. The Eagles had great success with players such as wide receiver A.J.Brown.
“You don’t want to sit on your heels and let others take the best players in the league. If you fail at getting these players, so be it,” Miers said.
“We have had great success with the players we have got. You’ve got to keep doing it and the only way to get better is to get better players.
“That makes the players like me at the team see those guys come and go [and think], ‘I don’t want them to steal my spot’. It all works for each other.”
If Rowell were to join the Cats, he would be an ideal replacement for Patrick Dangerfield, who is contracted until the end of 2026, and star midfielder Cam Guthrie, who has been sidelined through injury for all bar 10 matches since being equal best and fairest in Geelong’s 2022 premiership.
Setback for Kangaroos gun
Peter Ryan
North Melbourne midfielder George Wardlaw could be sidelined for a short period after he suffered a suspected hamstring strain at training on Wednesday.
The emerging Kangaroo was sent for scans and assistant coach Leigh Adams told reporters the 20-year-old would “probably miss some footy”.
“It looks like a hamstring. We’re not sure about the severity, he’s going to get a scan now,” Adams said.
Star midfielder Harry Sheezel, who was drafted alongside Wardlaw, told reporters the setback was disappointing but he expected a positive response whatever the prognosis.
George Wardlaw is undergoing scans after hurting his hamstring at trainingCredit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
“We’ll see how bad it is but I’m shattered for him and we’ll wrap our arms around him,” Sheezel said.
“He’s worked so hard on his body the last few years to get it right so if this is a bit of a setback it will be hard for him.”
Wardlaw played 18 games this season and had completed most of pre-season before the injury.
Injury scare for De Goey
Michael Gleeson
Collingwood star Jordan De Goey suffered a knock to his calf at training on Wednesday that forced him from the track.
But fears for the powerful midfield star were quickly allayed by scans taken immediately afterwards that cleared him of any tear or injury.
De Goey is still retuning to full fitness after badly tearing his hamstring at the end of last season. He went to Doha for specialist treatment on groin and abdominal issues in the off-season to address ongoing soft tissue issues.
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